TORRINGTON — When Ed Gadomski got a call from then Torrington Titans General Manager Sander Stotland asking if they could meet, he assumed they would be talking about working together again in the summer of 2013.

"I thought we would be talking about working on our Fourth of July exhibition and home run derby," Gadomski said. "We worked together real well last year and over the past couple of years had gotten them players from the Tri-State League."

Gadomski has been the commissioner of the highly thought of Tri-State Baseball League for more than a decade and has elevated it from a glorified beer league to one of the most respected summer loops in the Northeast.

So when he got in the car with Stotland and was asked if he wanted to be the Titans' next GM, Gadomski was caught off-guard.

"I didn't see that coming." Gadomski said. "But I was intrigued by the idea and thought it was something I would like to do."

Since that day in late January, the world has been moving even faster than usual for a guy who is used to moving at warp speed.

Along with working a full-time job as a technician at Waterbury Hospital over-night, Gadomski ran the Tri-State League and continued to be one of the most sought-after umpires in the area. Could he fit more hours into the day without completely figuring out how to never sleep again?

"It was rough in the beginning," Gadomski said. "But then I was finally able to switch off nights and onto days at the hospital, and things got easier. I could sleep. I don't think I realized how tired I was, but it felt good to rest."

Getting people into the park is the main objective of any general manager at this level. Because the Tri-State League is so spread out, with

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19 teams around the area, word can get to people who may want to spend a summer night at Fuessenich Park.

How has the reception been in the Torrington sporting community?

"I have been welcomed with open arms by everybody, and I could not have asked for more," Gadomski said.

Having worked out schedules with all of the different teams that clamor to play at Fuessenich Park each spring and summer over the years made it easy for Gadomski. He already knew all of the needs of the teams, including Tri-State.

The challenges?

"I think I could have used a 'General Manager for Dummies' book when I first came on board," Gadomski said. "I never realized that this position is clearly a full-time job that requires you to run it like a minor league baseball team."

From arranging transportation for 30-plus players and coaches to housing most of the players with host families to making sure the radio broadcast from the local station is set up and streaming over the Futures Collegiate Baseball League broadcast network, the duties would be enough to make anyone's head spin. But Gadomski has been up to the task.

His goals this season?

"One is to increase attendance by making sure we get the word out about what we have to offer. Each time people come to a game we want to make sure it's an event they will want to come back to," Gadomski said. "We also brought in a local chain, Jake's Wayback Burgers, to run our concession stand this summer. They are a great partner and we look forward to working with them this summer. Our last goal this summer is to make sure we are giving back to the community through fundraisers that will take place all through the season. We are here for the long haul and intend on being a viable contributor to this community for years to come."

Gadomski is a guy living his dream, even if he isn't getting much sleep.

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